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Island Witch
Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, award-winning author Amanda Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.
Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.
Now someone—or something —is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.
As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mother’s frantic cries: No one can find out what happened .
Lush, otherworldly, and recalling horror classics like Carrie and The Exorcist , Island Witch is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed.
Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.
Now someone—or something —is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.
As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mother’s frantic cries: No one can find out what happened .
Lush, otherworldly, and recalling horror classics like Carrie and The Exorcist , Island Witch is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
February 13, 2024
Island Witch is a twisty supernatural thriller set in the jungles of colonial Sri Lanka. I found it to be a delightfully creepy and suspenseful read, although that ending threw me for a loop! It's a quick read but not necessarily a light one – themes addressed in this book include colonialism, religious moral superiority, the abuse of women at the hands of men they love, and what happens when one of those ill-treated women is finally pushed too far. Trigger warnings include violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, bullying, and abortion.
The descriptive writing in this book is fantastic. It's easy to feel as if you're there in late nineteenth century Sri Lanka with Amara as she investigates the multiple vicious attacks on men in her village. Are the attacks the work of a single person or is something supernatural occurring out in the jungle?
The plot is original and clever, and I enjoyed watching Amara's transformation from innocent young girl to rage-filled woman. Well, perhaps “enjoyed” isn't the right word since it's not exactly a happy story, but I was definitely invested in the outcome and was anxious to discover how it would all play out.
The ending was a tough one for me. Was it justified? Probably. Was it inevitable? Perhaps. Was it the ending I hoped for? Absolutely not. I was horrified watching it unfold and yet understanding of why things needed to play out the way they did. Kudos to the author for writing such a shocking and complex conclusion to this novel – I never saw it coming.
Final rating: 3.85, rounded up. If you like creepy, gothic, and/or feminist tales set in exotic lands, you'll likely enjoy this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
The descriptive writing in this book is fantastic. It's easy to feel as if you're there in late nineteenth century Sri Lanka with Amara as she investigates the multiple vicious attacks on men in her village. Are the attacks the work of a single person or is something supernatural occurring out in the jungle?
The plot is original and clever, and I enjoyed watching Amara's transformation from innocent young girl to rage-filled woman. Well, perhaps “enjoyed” isn't the right word since it's not exactly a happy story, but I was definitely invested in the outcome and was anxious to discover how it would all play out.
The ending was a tough one for me. Was it justified? Probably. Was it inevitable? Perhaps. Was it the ending I hoped for? Absolutely not. I was horrified watching it unfold and yet understanding of why things needed to play out the way they did. Kudos to the author for writing such a shocking and complex conclusion to this novel – I never saw it coming.
Final rating: 3.85, rounded up. If you like creepy, gothic, and/or feminist tales set in exotic lands, you'll likely enjoy this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
February 10, 2024
Aside from some pacing issues in the middle, I really loved this one. I think the Gothic meets Sri Lankan folklore inspiration worked so well in this horror mystery. Atmosphere was great, imagery was vivid, and I really liked the themes explored. All around, a great first outing for me with this author - looking forward to more!
February 20, 2024
This book is set in the 19th century in the Sri Lanka area. I loved the history and culture that was in this story as that is not an area of the world I am very familiar with. The characters were interesting although the pacing was just a little off for me. Amara is 18 and lives with her parents. The tone of the island has changed as more and more people have converted to Christianity and work with the colonizers. Amara’s father follows the old ways and deals with the demons that can plague someone caught unaware. Because of this all of the villagers have always called her a witch and tormented her. But someone has been attacking men on the island and everything thinks it is Amara’s father, but she figures out there is more going on than she knows and she is determined to figure it out. This book was a lovely introduction to this author. The story is haunting and one that will stick with me.
February 14, 2024
Another thrilling read from one of my new favorite authors!
You don't want to miss out on this one, just wait until you read the synopsis and you will see what I mean.
Island Witch is set in 19th century Sri Lanka, Island Witch centers around Amara. Amara is the daughter of the village demon priest and since British colonizers have brought their new religion to the island, the villagers no longer respect her father like they once did.
Something is attacking men in the jungle and Amara's father has been falsely accused of being the perpetrator.
As Amara tries to clear her father's name, she finds herself terrorized by nightmares that are foreseeing sinister forces on the island.
Island Witch is a highly original, brilliant mix of historical fiction and horror. I found Amara's character to be well developed and her story to be completely captivating.
This is my third read by Jayatissa and Island Witch has solidified her as one of my auto-read authors!
Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa will be available on February 20. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!!
You don't want to miss out on this one, just wait until you read the synopsis and you will see what I mean.
Island Witch is set in 19th century Sri Lanka, Island Witch centers around Amara. Amara is the daughter of the village demon priest and since British colonizers have brought their new religion to the island, the villagers no longer respect her father like they once did.
Something is attacking men in the jungle and Amara's father has been falsely accused of being the perpetrator.
As Amara tries to clear her father's name, she finds herself terrorized by nightmares that are foreseeing sinister forces on the island.
Island Witch is a highly original, brilliant mix of historical fiction and horror. I found Amara's character to be well developed and her story to be completely captivating.
This is my third read by Jayatissa and Island Witch has solidified her as one of my auto-read authors!
Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa will be available on February 20. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!!
July 1, 2025
A supernatural thriller set in 1800s colonial Ceylon, following Amara, a girl haunted by nightmares and whose ‘island-witch’ father has stopped inviting her to train. Lots of good here; I’m very partial to Amanda Jayatissa’s sharp characters, compelling twists, and strong social commentary. Amara’s voice particularly grabbed me. There’s a nuance given to different reactions to colonialism, most notably within Neha, that works great. And her reveals, as always, are pitch-perfect – deftly foreshadowed, still shocking, and utterly horrifying. (One particular ending reveal will haunt me for a long, long time.)
I think this was somewhat underserved by the editor – also thought this was true of You’re Invited – and could have been paced significantly stronger. I also can’t quite decide how I feel about the ending.
With that being said, I think Amanda Jayatissa is comically underrated and absolutely worth reading from.
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I think this was somewhat underserved by the editor – also thought this was true of You’re Invited – and could have been paced significantly stronger. I also can’t quite decide how I feel about the ending.
With that being said, I think Amanda Jayatissa is comically underrated and absolutely worth reading from.
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February 4, 2024
Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa, demon priest. The village once loved him, but since the British’s attempt to colonize the island, things have taken a turn. Now they only rarely call on him.
Someone is attacking men in the jungle, but instead of turning to Amara’s father, they are accusing him.
As Amara works to clear her father’s name, she finds herself haunted by dreams that are predicting the dark forces on the island. She also can’t seem to shake the feeling that this is all tied to the night she was ill.
I love horror and I love historical fiction. So, I was very excited to dive into this one. I was captivated from the get-go. The prologue sucked me in, and I was on the edge of my seat. This book did have strong gothic vibes, and the pacing to match, so it was on the slow side. The book was very interesting, but the middle was a little tough as the pacing was so slow. The middle wasn’t so slow that I wanted to give up, I just found my mind drifting a little at times and I was able to put the book down. Towards the end of the book the pacing really picked up and I was flying through the pages. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I loved it so much! This story was so complex and beautifully done, and I really enjoyed it.
The story was very creepy and kept me guessing. I loved the different historical elements that were interwoven throughout the book. The folklore and supernatural elements really shined and were forefront and center as well. I love learning about different cultural folklore, so this was rather interesting to me. This was such a fun way to learn.
I found the characters to be well thought out and developed. I really felt for Amara and my heart ached for her. The way her own mother treated her was so sad, even though as the story went on I did understand why her mom did this, I didn’t agree with it.
The author thanked someone at the end for helping her get certain historical elements correct, and I think that research really shined throughout the story. I always love it when authors put effort into getting their historical fiction works historically accurate.
If you are looking for a unique and suspenseful horror / historical fiction novel, then check this one out.
Do be aware that this book does strongly focus on violence against women, and has some gory moments, this could be unsettling to some.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Someone is attacking men in the jungle, but instead of turning to Amara’s father, they are accusing him.
As Amara works to clear her father’s name, she finds herself haunted by dreams that are predicting the dark forces on the island. She also can’t seem to shake the feeling that this is all tied to the night she was ill.
I love horror and I love historical fiction. So, I was very excited to dive into this one. I was captivated from the get-go. The prologue sucked me in, and I was on the edge of my seat. This book did have strong gothic vibes, and the pacing to match, so it was on the slow side. The book was very interesting, but the middle was a little tough as the pacing was so slow. The middle wasn’t so slow that I wanted to give up, I just found my mind drifting a little at times and I was able to put the book down. Towards the end of the book the pacing really picked up and I was flying through the pages. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I loved it so much! This story was so complex and beautifully done, and I really enjoyed it.
The story was very creepy and kept me guessing. I loved the different historical elements that were interwoven throughout the book. The folklore and supernatural elements really shined and were forefront and center as well. I love learning about different cultural folklore, so this was rather interesting to me. This was such a fun way to learn.
I found the characters to be well thought out and developed. I really felt for Amara and my heart ached for her. The way her own mother treated her was so sad, even though as the story went on I did understand why her mom did this, I didn’t agree with it.
The author thanked someone at the end for helping her get certain historical elements correct, and I think that research really shined throughout the story. I always love it when authors put effort into getting their historical fiction works historically accurate.
If you are looking for a unique and suspenseful horror / historical fiction novel, then check this one out.
Do be aware that this book does strongly focus on violence against women, and has some gory moments, this could be unsettling to some.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2024
In the same vein of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas, Amanda Jayatissa's upcoming novel ISLAND WITCH is a historical fiction, supernatural, folklore, horror novel. That was a tongue twister, but this subgenre of horror has been emerging exponentially over the last few years and I am here for it!
ISLAND WITCH is Jayatissa's third novel and in my opinion, her best so far! ISLAND WITCH is inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, but the story is unique of its own. Our main character, Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa (or demon-priest) of a small town in Sri Lanka. In a land that has been heavily influenced by British colonizers, the villagers are becoming more Christian and turning away from Amara and her family. However, when push comes to shove, the townsfolk still respect Amara's father's influence and power within his practice. As the town begins to get more and more influenced by colonization, the nearby jungle becomes a haven for crime. Men keep being attacked and killed, but when the villagers accuse Amara's father, she will do everything in her power to clear his name.
This book was a very slow burn. Let me just clear that now. If you can't do a slow burn, ISLAND WITCH isn't for you. About halfway through, I began questioning if the payout would be worth it. I really loved how it evolved and it definitely had nods to Carrie and The Exorcist. I felt that ISLAND WITCH was the perfect concoction between Sri Lankan folklore and 80s horror homage. I would love if the author continued down this route of supernatural horror because ISLAND WITCH will be a hit for readers of the genre.
ISLAND WITCH is Jayatissa's third novel and in my opinion, her best so far! ISLAND WITCH is inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, but the story is unique of its own. Our main character, Amara is the daughter of the village Capuwa (or demon-priest) of a small town in Sri Lanka. In a land that has been heavily influenced by British colonizers, the villagers are becoming more Christian and turning away from Amara and her family. However, when push comes to shove, the townsfolk still respect Amara's father's influence and power within his practice. As the town begins to get more and more influenced by colonization, the nearby jungle becomes a haven for crime. Men keep being attacked and killed, but when the villagers accuse Amara's father, she will do everything in her power to clear his name.
This book was a very slow burn. Let me just clear that now. If you can't do a slow burn, ISLAND WITCH isn't for you. About halfway through, I began questioning if the payout would be worth it. I really loved how it evolved and it definitely had nods to Carrie and The Exorcist. I felt that ISLAND WITCH was the perfect concoction between Sri Lankan folklore and 80s horror homage. I would love if the author continued down this route of supernatural horror because ISLAND WITCH will be a hit for readers of the genre.
February 19, 2024
4.5 rounded up
𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪: Historical paranormal fiction / coming-of-age / dark fairytale
Thank you #partners @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my #gifted copies. #BerkleyIG #penguinrandomhousepartner
#berkleypartner
Island Witch
Amanda Jayatissa
2/20
📖 In 19th century Sri Lanka, in a small coastal village, Amara is the daughter of a Capuwa, a demon priest. Following British colonization and the religious and cultural assimilation of the locals, Amara and her family are outcast, with young Amara being bullied and accused of being a witch. Following a series of attacks in the nearby jungle, the villagers accuse her father, the Capuwa, of being the perpetrator. Plagued by premonition-like dreams, Amara is determined to get to the bottom of the attacks and clear her father's name.
💭 I loved this! Blending Sri Lankan folklore, historical fiction, anticolonial horror, and supernatural thriller, Island Witch is a fiercely feminist coming-of-age fairytale. It's eerie, atmospheric, and deliciously dark. The writing is lush and moody; the story is brilliantly paced, with an underlying mystery that keeps the reader hooked until the very end.
🎧 I read along with the audiobook, narrated by Isuri Wijesundara, and what a treat it was! Her narration brought the characters, the setting, and the angsty mood to life! I found myself opting for the audiobook more often than not, just so I could listen to Wijesundara. If you're an audiobooker, you'll definitely want to grab this one!
Thanks to my friends @booksandthemes & @nobookmark_noproblem for the buddy read and lively discussion. ❤️ We all really enjoyed this one so be sure to check out their reviews as well.
📌 Out tomorrow!
𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪: Historical paranormal fiction / coming-of-age / dark fairytale
Thank you #partners @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my #gifted copies. #BerkleyIG #penguinrandomhousepartner
#berkleypartner
Island Witch
Amanda Jayatissa
2/20
📖 In 19th century Sri Lanka, in a small coastal village, Amara is the daughter of a Capuwa, a demon priest. Following British colonization and the religious and cultural assimilation of the locals, Amara and her family are outcast, with young Amara being bullied and accused of being a witch. Following a series of attacks in the nearby jungle, the villagers accuse her father, the Capuwa, of being the perpetrator. Plagued by premonition-like dreams, Amara is determined to get to the bottom of the attacks and clear her father's name.
💭 I loved this! Blending Sri Lankan folklore, historical fiction, anticolonial horror, and supernatural thriller, Island Witch is a fiercely feminist coming-of-age fairytale. It's eerie, atmospheric, and deliciously dark. The writing is lush and moody; the story is brilliantly paced, with an underlying mystery that keeps the reader hooked until the very end.
🎧 I read along with the audiobook, narrated by Isuri Wijesundara, and what a treat it was! Her narration brought the characters, the setting, and the angsty mood to life! I found myself opting for the audiobook more often than not, just so I could listen to Wijesundara. If you're an audiobooker, you'll definitely want to grab this one!
Thanks to my friends @booksandthemes & @nobookmark_noproblem for the buddy read and lively discussion. ❤️ We all really enjoyed this one so be sure to check out their reviews as well.
📌 Out tomorrow!
May 17, 2024
i think i catfished myself with the description; i thought i would really like a book touted as similar to Carrie & The Exorcist but grounded in Sri Lankan history/lore. Somehow it was actually the worst book ive read in a hot minute. very much low budget revenge plot scary movie. long review warning
there were some really cool parts: the cultural/temporal setting, the folklore, even the prose, but that all pales in comparison to the extremely bad characterizations and deeply predictable plot points.
Amara is possibly the most shakily written protagonist I’ve ever encountered; on one page, she’s clever and savvy and well-versed in her father’s spiritual work, on the next she struggles to catch even the most blatant of ploys from a literal demon. A girl magically appears EVERY TIME she’s in the woods with intimate knowledge on exactly what Amara was just thinking about & she just… rolls with it? no one else ever knows who she is or looks directly at her (besides the town WITCH) but she doesn’t question it???? but we’re meant to believe she studied demons for years and her dad says he might hand the practice over to her???? she “knows the jungle” but apparently several people were easily tracking her coming and going in said jungle for days without her knowing? It’s like she was only smart & perceptive when the plot required it, and the rest of the time she had 2 brain cells to rub together. It was a real disservice bc she could have been a very compelling lead without every 3rd important detail flying over her head
The other characters are so wooden; the mother is hateful and pathetic in turns, with no real purpose beyond shaming Amara. It would have been more believable if she’d had a single redeeming quality to make Amara’s conflict with her make sense. The dad is just a jar of flaws with legs; the author did so much flashing back to make him appear to be a good dad turned weak, but ultimately it just felt forced. his affair seemed superfluous; there was already plenty reason to shake Amara’s faith in him
Don’t even get me started on Amara and Raam; what could have been a very salient point about coercion and male expectations of sex ended up feeling clunky and forced for plot advancement. He was slimy to the reader from the get go, but even without realizing he was a total cad, Amara at several points in the book makes it clear that her convictions (and learned shame) about sex outweigh her care for Raam’s feelings. She may not have known he was in it for sex (which is fair given her relative social isolation), but she knew the stakes were WAY higher for her than him. As such, her being pressured into that (absolutely brutal) sex scene came out of left field. She also spent whole paragraphs pondering how willing several men she knows, even her father, are to take advantage of women, but the next day we’re supposed to think her being pressured into sex in a semi-public space makes sense??? if that was the case, there should have been more lead up, more clear wavering of her position, more trust placed in Raam. If anything, I expected Amara to be more wary of Raam as the book progressed, as would logically occur when you learn that even the nicest man you know is harming women. Amara hearing that he is further delaying a proposal seems like the sort of thing that would have made her angry and mistrustful, not “agree” to his pressuring? Everyone around her is trying to force her into things she doesn’t agree with, but one more from her bf is fine for some reason? idk i read that scene and was just like? this makes no sense based on her emotional journey to this point? It does make sense that Raam tried to coerce her into sex as he’d been laying that nasty groundwork since his first appearance, but that specific moment and outcome just felt shoved in. She just had a run in with her bully, and is surrounded by half the town at a highly public event? It would have made more sense for this to have happened earlier, when they were alone in the jungle & she didn’t know as much about the men being attacked/wasn’t so concerned with her/her family’s reputation.
Then the pregnancy “reveal”; social isolation or not, you mean to tell me that an 18 year old girl in a society that considered her “old” for being single would think she was pregnant with a guys baby after they had sex 1 day ago? sex being shameful to her family or not, you mean to tell me she had NO concept of how pregnancy works???? It was so ridiculous it made me stop and go “there’s no way she’s THAT sheltered”. I’m not sure why the author thought this scene made sense at all; having her confront him about the engagement after he lied about proposing to her in 3 months seemed like enough fuel to advance the plot without such a glaring gap in her knowledge. the attempted assault also felt gratuitous given the point already made by his coercion
Overall the second half of this book just took a turn for the ridiculous; Amara stopped feeling like a person and more like a vessel for plot events, and the plot itself just fizzled out. By the end i was just rooting for half the town to die, and looking at the remaining pages to see how likely that was. Would not recommend
there were some really cool parts: the cultural/temporal setting, the folklore, even the prose, but that all pales in comparison to the extremely bad characterizations and deeply predictable plot points.
Amara is possibly the most shakily written protagonist I’ve ever encountered; on one page, she’s clever and savvy and well-versed in her father’s spiritual work, on the next she struggles to catch even the most blatant of ploys from a literal demon. A girl magically appears EVERY TIME she’s in the woods with intimate knowledge on exactly what Amara was just thinking about & she just… rolls with it? no one else ever knows who she is or looks directly at her (besides the town WITCH) but she doesn’t question it???? but we’re meant to believe she studied demons for years and her dad says he might hand the practice over to her???? she “knows the jungle” but apparently several people were easily tracking her coming and going in said jungle for days without her knowing? It’s like she was only smart & perceptive when the plot required it, and the rest of the time she had 2 brain cells to rub together. It was a real disservice bc she could have been a very compelling lead without every 3rd important detail flying over her head
The other characters are so wooden; the mother is hateful and pathetic in turns, with no real purpose beyond shaming Amara. It would have been more believable if she’d had a single redeeming quality to make Amara’s conflict with her make sense. The dad is just a jar of flaws with legs; the author did so much flashing back to make him appear to be a good dad turned weak, but ultimately it just felt forced. his affair seemed superfluous; there was already plenty reason to shake Amara’s faith in him
Don’t even get me started on Amara and Raam; what could have been a very salient point about coercion and male expectations of sex ended up feeling clunky and forced for plot advancement. He was slimy to the reader from the get go, but even without realizing he was a total cad, Amara at several points in the book makes it clear that her convictions (and learned shame) about sex outweigh her care for Raam’s feelings. She may not have known he was in it for sex (which is fair given her relative social isolation), but she knew the stakes were WAY higher for her than him. As such, her being pressured into that (absolutely brutal) sex scene came out of left field. She also spent whole paragraphs pondering how willing several men she knows, even her father, are to take advantage of women, but the next day we’re supposed to think her being pressured into sex in a semi-public space makes sense??? if that was the case, there should have been more lead up, more clear wavering of her position, more trust placed in Raam. If anything, I expected Amara to be more wary of Raam as the book progressed, as would logically occur when you learn that even the nicest man you know is harming women. Amara hearing that he is further delaying a proposal seems like the sort of thing that would have made her angry and mistrustful, not “agree” to his pressuring? Everyone around her is trying to force her into things she doesn’t agree with, but one more from her bf is fine for some reason? idk i read that scene and was just like? this makes no sense based on her emotional journey to this point? It does make sense that Raam tried to coerce her into sex as he’d been laying that nasty groundwork since his first appearance, but that specific moment and outcome just felt shoved in. She just had a run in with her bully, and is surrounded by half the town at a highly public event? It would have made more sense for this to have happened earlier, when they were alone in the jungle & she didn’t know as much about the men being attacked/wasn’t so concerned with her/her family’s reputation.
Then the pregnancy “reveal”; social isolation or not, you mean to tell me that an 18 year old girl in a society that considered her “old” for being single would think she was pregnant with a guys baby after they had sex 1 day ago? sex being shameful to her family or not, you mean to tell me she had NO concept of how pregnancy works???? It was so ridiculous it made me stop and go “there’s no way she’s THAT sheltered”. I’m not sure why the author thought this scene made sense at all; having her confront him about the engagement after he lied about proposing to her in 3 months seemed like enough fuel to advance the plot without such a glaring gap in her knowledge. the attempted assault also felt gratuitous given the point already made by his coercion
Overall the second half of this book just took a turn for the ridiculous; Amara stopped feeling like a person and more like a vessel for plot events, and the plot itself just fizzled out. By the end i was just rooting for half the town to die, and looking at the remaining pages to see how likely that was. Would not recommend
May 17, 2024
3.5/5
After seeing Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa all over Booksta and having read and loved You're Invited, I knew I had to read it. This was an achingly slow burn in the beginning, and it took me to about the halfway mark to really be invested. To be honest, it was almost a DNF for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because the last half and especially the end really pulled things together for me. This is a really heavy read which I wasn't expecting, and it gave me total Silvia Moreno-Garcia vibes. I loved the way Jayatissa mixed culture and folklore, and she brought Sri Lanka to life in the way only she can do.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, and I could tell that Isuri Wijesundara knew what she was doing with her narration. She flawlessly flew through all of the Sinhala phrases and completely embodied the voice of Amara. I'm glad I chose to listen to this, as I don't think I would have been able to pronounce a lot of things in the book. I kinda feel like I read a different book from everyone else, and I personally wanted more action out of the storyline. I also found the way Jayatissa wrote out the language and then the English words to be very distracting although it was interesting as well. All in all, this wasn't the best book I have ever read but it still has many wonderful qualities, and you should definitely take my review with a grain of salt. Thank you for listening. 🤣
After seeing Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa all over Booksta and having read and loved You're Invited, I knew I had to read it. This was an achingly slow burn in the beginning, and it took me to about the halfway mark to really be invested. To be honest, it was almost a DNF for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because the last half and especially the end really pulled things together for me. This is a really heavy read which I wasn't expecting, and it gave me total Silvia Moreno-Garcia vibes. I loved the way Jayatissa mixed culture and folklore, and she brought Sri Lanka to life in the way only she can do.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, and I could tell that Isuri Wijesundara knew what she was doing with her narration. She flawlessly flew through all of the Sinhala phrases and completely embodied the voice of Amara. I'm glad I chose to listen to this, as I don't think I would have been able to pronounce a lot of things in the book. I kinda feel like I read a different book from everyone else, and I personally wanted more action out of the storyline. I also found the way Jayatissa wrote out the language and then the English words to be very distracting although it was interesting as well. All in all, this wasn't the best book I have ever read but it still has many wonderful qualities, and you should definitely take my review with a grain of salt. Thank you for listening. 🤣
April 22, 2024
I was bored in the beginning, and pissed off in the end. If injustice is a trigger for you, you will not like this book. It's basically a long litany of building and repeated injustice and escalating violence in response.
I get being pissed off by the violence of patriarchy, because I feel that rage daily. However, adding blatant misandry to the misogyny is not productive or fair, and I have never yet read a "thriller" that didn't boil down to "all men are evil and all women are their victims". Amara's agency is stolen at every point, and even when she appears to be making a choice for herself, it's actually a result of manipulation of her trauma by someone seeking to use her.
I also find the insidious demonizing of a female deity telling when juxtaposed with the way Christianity is handled in the book. Kali is depicted as a force for escalating retribution and thoughtless rage, while Christianity, a violent force for patriarchy and colonialism throughout history, is portrayed as a peaceful and protective force for those who embrace it (there are glimpses of the injustices of Christian colonialism early in the book when Amara is at school, but most depictions are neutral or even positive in tone).
Overall, there are so many nuances of culture, religion, and society that this book could have explored, and yet it is a blunt instrument that fails to pick up any of these threads that could have made the story meaningful and evoke emotions in the reader other than anger, impotence, and frustration.
I get being pissed off by the violence of patriarchy, because I feel that rage daily. However, adding blatant misandry to the misogyny is not productive or fair, and I have never yet read a "thriller" that didn't boil down to "all men are evil and all women are their victims". Amara's agency is stolen at every point, and even when she appears to be making a choice for herself, it's actually a result of manipulation of her trauma by someone seeking to use her.
I also find the insidious demonizing of a female deity telling when juxtaposed with the way Christianity is handled in the book. Kali is depicted as a force for escalating retribution and thoughtless rage, while Christianity, a violent force for patriarchy and colonialism throughout history, is portrayed as a peaceful and protective force for those who embrace it (there are glimpses of the injustices of Christian colonialism early in the book when Amara is at school, but most depictions are neutral or even positive in tone).
Overall, there are so many nuances of culture, religion, and society that this book could have explored, and yet it is a blunt instrument that fails to pick up any of these threads that could have made the story meaningful and evoke emotions in the reader other than anger, impotence, and frustration.
February 12, 2024
The Island Witch is VERY different from the authors previous two books, so I was a little weary going into it but this one surprised me in the best of ways! Filled with creepy folklore and a lot of cultural references this one hit home for me. I love books where authors can make their novels so atmospheric that you feel like you’re involved in the story and this one certainly did that. And it’s CREEPY! I highly recommend this for those who have enjoyed books like Vampires of El Norte and Mexican Gothic!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Supernatural Thrillers/Horror
❥ Atmospheric Reads
❥ Books surrounded in folklore
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Supernatural Thrillers/Horror
❥ Atmospheric Reads
❥ Books surrounded in folklore
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 27, 2024
I really appreciated the history and the elements of Sri Lankan culture. However, the story was mediocre and so slow. There was so much opportunity here to use a gothic thriller to discuss colonialism, religious persecution, and misogyny. The whole thing was predictable from chapter one. The main character was apparently the only good person in her village because literally everyone else was terrible. Every. One. Else. This whole book was full of missed opportunities to tell a great story.
October 17, 2025
3.75🖤
Pure female rage. Loved it.
Pure female rage. Loved it.
May 22, 2024
I should have dnfed this. I just could not stand the narrative voice. Plus the fact that the protagonist does not have one reasonable human in her village. I hate this kind of single minded story telling. I was hoping it would get better, but the ending made it worse for me...
February 21, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.
I really liked the story in this one. It was an interesting setting, an interesting cast, and a really cool way to learn about another culture through a tale involving their beliefs, mythologies, and religious practices.
But it did have some downfalls. Namely, all of the twists are predictable. I knew every reveal before it happened, and it was obvious leading up to it. In addition, the use of words specific to their language is really neat, but the constant "here's a word, here's the definition" got a little distracting. And the main character's non-stop "my dad is treating me differently, what happened to make this change, etc" got very repetitive when it was in almost every chapter for over half of the book.
It did have a strong protagonist, which I liked, and while the definitions did become tedious, I did like that the author put in actual words and historical references that were really part of history. I also loved that the story was about a part of the world and a history that we don't have a lot of published novels about. I'm really happy to see more diverse stories being published to share those things with the world of readers.
All in all, I really enjoyed it, but felt like it needed some tweaking.
I really liked the story in this one. It was an interesting setting, an interesting cast, and a really cool way to learn about another culture through a tale involving their beliefs, mythologies, and religious practices.
But it did have some downfalls. Namely, all of the twists are predictable. I knew every reveal before it happened, and it was obvious leading up to it. In addition, the use of words specific to their language is really neat, but the constant "here's a word, here's the definition" got a little distracting. And the main character's non-stop "my dad is treating me differently, what happened to make this change, etc" got very repetitive when it was in almost every chapter for over half of the book.
It did have a strong protagonist, which I liked, and while the definitions did become tedious, I did like that the author put in actual words and historical references that were really part of history. I also loved that the story was about a part of the world and a history that we don't have a lot of published novels about. I'm really happy to see more diverse stories being published to share those things with the world of readers.
All in all, I really enjoyed it, but felt like it needed some tweaking.
April 7, 2024
The fury of a woman is something to be seen. I loved this book, it is wild and voracious.
I am a fan of witchy stories and this one has a fiery main character who has been wronged although she isn't aware of how. When she finally finds out, she unleashes her fury and it is something to behold.
I loved the writing, the characters, the setting, the wildness, and the symbolism woven throughout it. I would definitely read more of this author in the future.
I am a fan of witchy stories and this one has a fiery main character who has been wronged although she isn't aware of how. When she finally finds out, she unleashes her fury and it is something to behold.
I loved the writing, the characters, the setting, the wildness, and the symbolism woven throughout it. I would definitely read more of this author in the future.
July 27, 2024
3-1/2 Stars!
I found this ebook in my library's horror category and was drawn to the cover. This author is new to me but I now intend to read her other work.
Island Witch is a story about 18-year-old Amara who is the daughter of the demon-priest in her small village. The opening of the book is indeed quite scary! What follows is an incredibly slow burn of a book which had me losing interest from time to time. However, the last few chapters became quite scary once again and ultimately led me to a satisfying end!
My 3-1/2 star rating seems to be lower than a lot of the other ratings I have seen so far for this book. For me, a super slow burn of a book is generally not my favorite style when I wanting to read something categorized as horror, suspense, thriller, etc. I was happy enough with how everything tied in together to keep Amanda Jayatissa on my radar for future reads.
I found this ebook in my library's horror category and was drawn to the cover. This author is new to me but I now intend to read her other work.
Island Witch is a story about 18-year-old Amara who is the daughter of the demon-priest in her small village. The opening of the book is indeed quite scary! What follows is an incredibly slow burn of a book which had me losing interest from time to time. However, the last few chapters became quite scary once again and ultimately led me to a satisfying end!
My 3-1/2 star rating seems to be lower than a lot of the other ratings I have seen so far for this book. For me, a super slow burn of a book is generally not my favorite style when I wanting to read something categorized as horror, suspense, thriller, etc. I was happy enough with how everything tied in together to keep Amanda Jayatissa on my radar for future reads.
February 2, 2024
Island Witch is a creepy, bordering on horror. Set in 19th-Century Sri Lanka, it centers on 18-year-old Amara. Lately certain men of her village have been attacked. Amara has been having nightmares about the attacks. Her mother and father are also treating her differently. She decides to investigate the attacks herself with the aid of a newcomer to her village. What she discovers will upend her world.
I loved the gothic atmosphere and the slow, steady, scary unrolling of what is actually happening (and what actually happened in the past). It's important to note that there is a focus on violence against women in the book, along with the supernatural terror. It's also gory, but that violence is all perpetrated upon men. The book is powerful and unsettling. Recommended, but know what you're getting into.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
I loved the gothic atmosphere and the slow, steady, scary unrolling of what is actually happening (and what actually happened in the past). It's important to note that there is a focus on violence against women in the book, along with the supernatural terror. It's also gory, but that violence is all perpetrated upon men. The book is powerful and unsettling. Recommended, but know what you're getting into.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
February 25, 2024
Island Witch evoked a slew of emotions in me, catching me off guard with its gripping narrative. The book follows our protagonist, Amara, on her quest to uncover the perpetrator behind a series of brutal attacks in her village. Amidst superstitious whispers painting Amara as a witch and implicating her father in the sinister deeds, her recurring nightmares hint at a deeper mystery waiting to be unraveled.
One of the book's highlights was its immersive portrayal of Sri Lankan culture, which added depth and authenticity to the story. Through Amara's struggles, I found myself deeply empathizing with her, particularly in the face of the pervasive mistreatment of women during that era. The stark depiction of violence inflicted upon women by men was both distressing and poignant, shedding light on the harsh realities of the time.
Things took a dark turn in the end and it may be triggering for some readers. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to go in such a bleak direction. In terms of pacing, the book is slow-going but I was so entranced by the story that I was never bored. Overall, I really loved this book up until the ending which might elicit differing opinions among readers.
One of the book's highlights was its immersive portrayal of Sri Lankan culture, which added depth and authenticity to the story. Through Amara's struggles, I found myself deeply empathizing with her, particularly in the face of the pervasive mistreatment of women during that era. The stark depiction of violence inflicted upon women by men was both distressing and poignant, shedding light on the harsh realities of the time.
Things took a dark turn in the end and it may be triggering for some readers. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to go in such a bleak direction. In terms of pacing, the book is slow-going but I was so entranced by the story that I was never bored. Overall, I really loved this book up until the ending which might elicit differing opinions among readers.
February 14, 2024
This was a well written and enthralling feminist historical fiction/fantasy set in 19th century Sri Lanka that follows Amara, a young island girl who is the daughter of a traditional 'demon priest' as she navigates life in a society where women are often demonized and have little say over their lives. Enter the 'Island witch' - a demon spirit who gives Amara power to seek revenge on the men who wronged her. I love a good vengeance story and this one was full of a great blend of history and fantasy/mythology with a strong female lead. Great on audio too narrated by Isuri Wijesundara. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 20, 2024
Island Witch is a lush, darkly feminist historical fiction novel with elements of horror and fantasy, and it provides a vivid and immersive look into a time and place not typically featured in the genre. Set in Sri Lanka in the late 19th century during the years of British colonization, Amanda Jayatissa's new novel focuses on Amara, the teenage daughter of a traditional demon-priest (essentially an exorcist) and an outcast amongst her peers. When several men are viciously attacked in the jungle and Amara's father becomes the prime suspect, Amara can't help but wonder if the series of attacks is related to the vivid nightmares she's been having -- or to the night she awoke after a strange illness, unable to remember what happened to her.
Island Witch is intensely atmospheric, providing a culturally rich, vibrant depiction of colonial Sri Lanka with all the political and religious unrest simmering beneath the island's surface beauty. Jayatissa does an incredible job of integrating historical elements with a propulsive, haunting narrative that sucked me in completely. Amara is a well-developed character whose intimate narration guides the novel to, and through, some dark, difficult places. Although the prose is incredibly readable, Jayatissa does explore dark themes like dysfunctional family relationships, physical and sexual abuse, the collision of the old world with the new, and the worst aspects of colonialism and religious and moral superiority. At its core, Island Witch is a novel about the destructive power of feminine rage -- about what happens when injustices against women are taken too far.
The pace does feel languid in spots, as Jayatissa takes lots of time to immerse the reader in the world of the novel and in Amara's thoughts, but everything culminates spectacularly in a bold, complex conclusion that I will be thinking about for a long time. And although plot-wise the two books couldn't be more different, as I was reading Island Witch, I kept thinking about Carrie. I think Amara and Carrie would have a lot to discuss, were they ever to meet. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the early reading opportunity.
Island Witch is intensely atmospheric, providing a culturally rich, vibrant depiction of colonial Sri Lanka with all the political and religious unrest simmering beneath the island's surface beauty. Jayatissa does an incredible job of integrating historical elements with a propulsive, haunting narrative that sucked me in completely. Amara is a well-developed character whose intimate narration guides the novel to, and through, some dark, difficult places. Although the prose is incredibly readable, Jayatissa does explore dark themes like dysfunctional family relationships, physical and sexual abuse, the collision of the old world with the new, and the worst aspects of colonialism and religious and moral superiority. At its core, Island Witch is a novel about the destructive power of feminine rage -- about what happens when injustices against women are taken too far.
The pace does feel languid in spots, as Jayatissa takes lots of time to immerse the reader in the world of the novel and in Amara's thoughts, but everything culminates spectacularly in a bold, complex conclusion that I will be thinking about for a long time. And although plot-wise the two books couldn't be more different, as I was reading Island Witch, I kept thinking about Carrie. I think Amara and Carrie would have a lot to discuss, were they ever to meet. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the early reading opportunity.
dnf
February 22, 2024I think this is temporary, but we shall see...
February 21, 2024
Amara is the daughter of a Capuwa or demon-priest. She’s made fun of and called a witch because of this. The men on the island are being viciously attacked, and her father is the main suspect. Amara is determined to clear his name while trying to figure out why she’s having such dark dreams connected to the attacks.
I didn’t know much about Sri Lankan culture or folklore prior to reading this book, and it was definitely an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about their traditions and history.
A bit of a slow burn, the first half of the book explains the culture and what it’s like for Amara being the daughter of a demon-priest. The second half picks up, and gets creepier with the entity haunting Amara’s dreams. The setting was eerie and atmospheric. This was the first book I’ve read that blended historical fiction with horror, and I really enjoyed it.
I would have liked a little more horror in this story. I thought the ending was great especially the epilogue. I enjoyed the themes of feminism and women standing up for equal rights and treatment throughout the book and loved Amara as the main character. This was way different than Jayatissa’s previous book, and it showed the range she has as an author.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for sending me a finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
I didn’t know much about Sri Lankan culture or folklore prior to reading this book, and it was definitely an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about their traditions and history.
A bit of a slow burn, the first half of the book explains the culture and what it’s like for Amara being the daughter of a demon-priest. The second half picks up, and gets creepier with the entity haunting Amara’s dreams. The setting was eerie and atmospheric. This was the first book I’ve read that blended historical fiction with horror, and I really enjoyed it.
I would have liked a little more horror in this story. I thought the ending was great especially the epilogue. I enjoyed the themes of feminism and women standing up for equal rights and treatment throughout the book and loved Amara as the main character. This was way different than Jayatissa’s previous book, and it showed the range she has as an author.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for sending me a finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 21, 2024
Thank you @berkleypub #partner for the #gifted copy and @prhaudio for the audiobook!
——
Amanda Jayatissa has been an auto-buy author for me ever since she released her first thriller, 𝑀𝑦 𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙, back in 2021. Her second thriller, 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑, was also perfection. However her third book, Island Witch, is her masterpiece and in a league of its own. Unlike her previous works, Island Witch gears more towards supernatural horror with Sri Lankan folklore and fierce feminism set in a colonial background.
The opening chapter with an eerie demoness who captures an evil man, sets the premise of the entire book. Amara, the daughter of the village Capuwa (demon priest) is the POV throughout the story and all I felt like doing was holding Amara’s hand and hugging her as she navigates toxic masculinity, traditional lifestyle, British-brought-Christianity and a village divided by colonialism, all on her own.
This book was both educational and a delight to read, paired with English and Sri Lankan languages, narrated by own-voice, debut narrator @isuriw who did such an amazing narration. I would highly recommend the audiobook paired with the book, you will not regret it! As of today, Island Witch is my #1 favorite book I have read this year and I’m certain will make to my top 10 by the end of 2024. The absolutely stunning book cover is also currently my fav cover of this year!!
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March 12, 2024No rating since I skimmed about 30% of it. :(
I loooooooved the prologue! It was gruesome and tense and delivered so much in a few pages. I thought that had truly set up the tone of the novel and i was going to love this! Sadly, that was not the case.
The tone shift in the first chapters took some of me excitement away and the slow pace didn't help bring it back. I couldn't connect to the characters and Amara's perspective and the plot didn't capture my attention. I kept waiting for something exciting like the prologue to happen and... nothing.
I ended up skimming a lot of the middle and didn't find that I missed much in terms of important twists, either. The ending was a bit more satisfying, but by then I wasn't invested at all.
I loooooooved the prologue! It was gruesome and tense and delivered so much in a few pages. I thought that had truly set up the tone of the novel and i was going to love this! Sadly, that was not the case.
The tone shift in the first chapters took some of me excitement away and the slow pace didn't help bring it back. I couldn't connect to the characters and Amara's perspective and the plot didn't capture my attention. I kept waiting for something exciting like the prologue to happen and... nothing.
I ended up skimming a lot of the middle and didn't find that I missed much in terms of important twists, either. The ending was a bit more satisfying, but by then I wasn't invested at all.
November 24, 2024
Oh this book made me so mad! All the men and even some of the women are awful. You see how many people are pushed into lives they do not choose for the sake of propriety or tradition. I loved the culture of the island and the weaving of Hindu and Buddhist mythology with the story. Seeing the impact of colonization, how easily a woman can be labeled a witch or pushed around was all so well done, I wanted to throw the book several times because I felt for Amara so deeply. The ending though was amazing, if you like a revenge story, this is for you.
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March 9, 2024Did not finish. I loved the idea but I think it took too long to get going. I kept putting off reading before I just gave up.
August 4, 2025
"Someday, she might understand. But even if she didn't, that was alright. I didn't need understanding. I needed revenge."
This was an awesome little story of female rage and revenge set in 1880's Sri Lanka, known as Ceylon at the time. I really did not expect to like it as much as I did by the end of the novel. At first, I found the main character, 18-year-old Amara, to be naïve and slightly annoying. A little dense at times, to be honest. But as the story progressed, and the mystery of the attacks in the jungle, and her family's role in the supernatural events, progressed, I was enthralled and really didn't want to put the book down. I was cheering on Amara, even as I knew that
Wow. Some big words I used there.
I believe the other reason I really enjoyed this book is that the author's love and appreciation of her Sri Lankan heritage shines through. The novel is replete with the language, culture and customs of this tear-drop shaped island south-east of the Indian peninsula. Author Jayatissa simply immerses the reader into this setting, employing a straightforward narrative that respected my intelligence by not talking down to me, but also teaching me a thing or two. I liked that during certain scenes, the dialogue was written in Sinhala (using the Latin alphabet), and then translated into English. It made me feel more immersed into the narration, in a way.
Amara is the child of the village Capuwa, the local spiritualist who provides blessings and communes with the spirits of the island. At the same time, the island has been occupied by a series of Western colonizers, first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and most recently the British, bringing in their Western values of Christianity, patriarchy, and capitalism. Ultimately, I think, the book speaks not only to the origin of a legendary Sri Lankan ghost, the Mohini, but also to colonialism and female empowerment.
Kudos to the author! This was a wonderful book.
This was an awesome little story of female rage and revenge set in 1880's Sri Lanka, known as Ceylon at the time. I really did not expect to like it as much as I did by the end of the novel. At first, I found the main character, 18-year-old Amara, to be naïve and slightly annoying. A little dense at times, to be honest. But as the story progressed, and the mystery of the attacks in the jungle, and her family's role in the supernatural events, progressed, I was enthralled and really didn't want to put the book down. I was cheering on Amara, even as I knew that
Wow. Some big words I used there.
I believe the other reason I really enjoyed this book is that the author's love and appreciation of her Sri Lankan heritage shines through. The novel is replete with the language, culture and customs of this tear-drop shaped island south-east of the Indian peninsula. Author Jayatissa simply immerses the reader into this setting, employing a straightforward narrative that respected my intelligence by not talking down to me, but also teaching me a thing or two. I liked that during certain scenes, the dialogue was written in Sinhala (using the Latin alphabet), and then translated into English. It made me feel more immersed into the narration, in a way.
Amara is the child of the village Capuwa, the local spiritualist who provides blessings and communes with the spirits of the island. At the same time, the island has been occupied by a series of Western colonizers, first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and most recently the British, bringing in their Western values of Christianity, patriarchy, and capitalism. Ultimately, I think, the book speaks not only to the origin of a legendary Sri Lankan ghost, the Mohini, but also to colonialism and female empowerment.
Kudos to the author! This was a wonderful book.
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